Erik Rocks

Erik, that was a great argument. You are especially right that America must not be percieved as weak in the Arab world. Most of the protestors have no idea how diplomacy really works in the Middle East. I suggest everyone read From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman. It is not about Iraq, but the Lebanese Civil War, a conflict that ended 10 years ago. The book gives a great glimpse at the Middle Eastern mentality. In the middle east, force is respected, and weakness is taken advantage of. Another phrase I hear a lot is "inspectors work, war doesn't." Something a kin to this is posted at the school. What that phrase seems to be forgetting is without the threat of American and British force, those inspectors would never had gotten into the country in the first place. The Middle East is not Europe. Being pacifistic is suicide in that region.